The end of America...

That is, my tour of America.  It ended with a BANG as thunder and lightening and torrential downpours filled the night.  Many in the downtown core trembled as earlier there were reports of a tornado in nearby Springfield, MA.  The loudest bang was beyond anything I ever heard, my first thought was...it was some kind of attack...

Washington and New York were hectic...in the former, hotel availability was impossible due to the start of spring, and graduations.  TIme was tight and distances were long as we ended up staying one night in Alexandria, and on in Springfield (both in Virigina). Checked out the Whitehouse, passed by the Pentagon and Arlington Memorial, and saw the Lincoln Memorial and WWII Memorials.  In New York we lucked out and stayed at a friend of a friends Brownstone in Brooklyn.  We checked out a few clubs (White Rabbit and Sapphire), ate Philly Cheesesteaks, lotsa streetmeat (gyros), and shopped.  Hung out with Farouk and went for Korean fried chicken at a cool place just off Wall Street.  Checked out the Met museum and the Alexander MacQueen collection. Checked out Times Square and Central Park. 

In Boston, ate lotsa Chowda, crabcakes, lobster burger, and other local treats.  Checked out Boston Common, the Statehouse, visited the MIT museum, and did the Harvard Tour.  My trip lasted from May 23, 2011 - June 2, 2011.

NG

The Next Phase...

Mumbai was a blast, stayed in Bandra with Khushnam Polad  for 2 nites (and I now love this song even more! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3VjjFtU-pk ). Went to Elbo Room the first nite with Asa Kumle  (a Norwegian friend I met on the flight from Madrai to Mumbai), and earlier enjoyed having Sev Puri on the street. The three of us checked out Hawaiian Shack the next day - it was great! Retro tunes down, hip hop R&B and bollywood upstairs. Joined Khush for some Tai Chi type work out.

watched Yamla Pagla Deewana in Pune, Dhobi Ghat in Hyderabad, and Biutiful in Mumbai.  All were good!

Got into London at 7am, hadn't slept on the flight, but anyways went to Buzz Asia party at Metra (Leicester Square) with Aliza P, and didn't get to bed till 4:45am...who said adults make smart choices?  Hadn't slept the previous nite either as we were at Hawaiian Shack. Checked out London Dungeon today. Tomorrow we'll celebrate Duri and Faizal's bdays here in Surrey.

NAH

Shri Chitra Ayurhome, near Thrissur, Kerala

Last night (Friday Feb 4th), took a cruise down the backwaters from our hotel, Taj Gateway. Was feeling quesy from a day in the sun (checked out a few 16th century Portuguese/Dutch churches and walked around Fort Cochin, and learned the history of the Chinese, spice trade, etc of the region), so missed the cultural performances at the hotel. Then jumped in the car for a 2hr ride to Thrissur. We reached by 11pm and took rest.  The next day was filled with interesting experiences which I'll elaborate on at some point - a 45min medicated buttermilk treatment (which could be mistaken for water torture!) along with a coconut oil massage (had to get rid of ALL the clothes but they were so kind to fasten a kind of groincloth around me!) which involved 2 therapists massaging simultaneously. The tough part was it was on a wood bed, slightly uncomfortable at times...(Pathi is the name of the Indian tree it's from). Then had a steam treatment to wrap it up.  Quite amazing actually, all the things included with a stay at centers like these.  On the 3rd (Day 1 of Cochin), we checked out Nimmy Paul's cooking class, and got a great taste of South India thereafter (Kingfish, a GIANT prawn, 

I'm looking forward to reconnecting with the parents in Periyar in 2 days time, to go on the Tiger safari.

Sorry if that was too detailed!

Nah

Golconda Fort, Char Minar

Mon Jan 31st. update DAY 14

Checked out Golconda Fort today (google it and see some amazing images!!!!).

Only a few more days in this hectic ancient city, then it's off to the backwaters of Kerala,

a Tiger reserve, some amazing temples, ayurveda massage, and 5 star luxury! My friend who

is a Dr of Ayurveda, yoga, etc has promised private lessons in yoga and will eventually start

her own Ayurvedic resort in Dubai, inshallah. Yesterday, I met with a former classmate of my

fathers son, and his wife, who happen to be residing in Hyderabad.

Salar Jung was quite something - the largest private collection in the world! Unfortunately the jewels

(which easily rival the Crown Jewels of England) were not on display. Also visited Char Minar which is

in the old town - very polluted, impoverished, and noisy (moreso than other parts of town, if that's possible)

Thurs Jan 27th India update DAY 10

Arrived in Hyderabad the night of the 23rd. It's mostly been shopping,
facials, etc for mum. But yesterday was Republic Day so we spent the
day at the boys hostel setup by Gulamhussein Bapa (my dadabapa's
brother), which about 6yrs ago was taken over by AKES. It's an amazing
place, where so many underpriviledged kids from Gujarat, Nagpur, AP
etc have had their futures brightened. They have big plans for the
site, which is on some very valuable land, as across the board land is
appreciating rapidly in India, perhaps coinciding with their high
inflation rates. We also visited a new colony, called Green Estate
Cooperative, (built on the site of the Hyderabad 2006 Deedar, where as
many as 150,000 murids participated) where about 800 Ismaili families
will eventually reside. Traffic is intense especially in the Char
Minar area which I haven't yet made it to on this trip. We did make it
to Hussain Sagar Lake, where a large Buddha is erected. Will visit
the magnificent Nizam's Jewels (Salar Jung Museum) tomorrow.

In Pune I got an opportunity to attend a wedding which was great! I
also visited some local hill stations, including Mahabaleshwar and
Paanchgani. Visited the Fidai (boys) hostel in the latter which was an
amazing place with a lot of history. Spent some time with Doorstep
Schools, an organization that ensures transient families who work on
construction sites still have access to education for their children.

I am ready to get out of Hyderabad and can't wait for back water
houseboating, the Tiger Reserve visit and the rest of South.

Pune -city of schools and military

Hello all, 
I am back in Pune.  Just visited the Aga Khan Museum which is magnificent but sadly under resourced or mismanaged or both. Specifically all the wonderful photos of Gandhji and related artifacts are falling apart, and some pictures even rest on the floor.  I have to prepare for a wedding reception which I got an impromptu invite yesterday.

I left Toronto Jan 16 9pm, landed in London 9am, departed 1hr late at 11am, and reached my hotel in Mumbai at almost 3am on Tuesday Jan 18, 2011. Departed for Pune on the 5pm train after some napping, wandering with a NY girl I met, and a McAloo Tiki, Paneer Wrap, and Fanta float. Yesterday after sorting out my cell phone, I visited Doorstep Schools, an innovative program to ensure all youngsters, even those who live at construction sites, have a chance at an education. On the way back I performed the pilgrimage to my alma matter (sorta), Pune University.  Oh, how it has changed!  I then went to Royal Orchid Central for dinner over ghazals, then to Dhuaa, a late nite shisha joint where the many students in this town spend their late nites.

Hopefully will share more from Hyderabad.

Naheed  

Chicago...story in pictures!

 

What a great city!  Definitely worth a visit.

 

The architecture, history, culture, and cuisine all make this a world class city.  Blues music, the skyscrapers, the Bean, the Stock/Commodities Exchanges, the Chicago Cultural Center, skating @ Millenium Park, the L train, Grand Lux Cafe, the malls of the Magnificent Mile, etc were all fun to check out.

Here are some picture hilites.